Folding chair



Oct. 31, 1933. BAKER 1,933,040

FOLDING CHAIR Filed Aug. 18, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. E. BAKER FOLDING CHAIR Oct. 31, 1933.

Filed Aug. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35' 1 and 2 pivotally connected at 3.

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 FOLDING CHAIR Harold E. Baker, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Kalamazoo Sled Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application August 18, 1930. Serial No. 475,939

4 Claims.

The main object of this invention is to provide a chair of the lawn or beach type having flexible seat and back in whichthese parts are arranged and supported so that they do not objectionably sag or bow when the chair is occupied.

A further object is to provide a structure having these advantages which may be readily embodied in a folding chair.

A still further object is to provide a structure '10 of this character which is economical to produce and at the same time very strong and durable.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved chair.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the chair of Fig. 1 folded or collapsed.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

r Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section corresponding to that of Fig. 5 showing a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

The structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises crossed front and rear legs The front legs are extended into back members 4. The rear legs are provided with a cross piece 5 at their front ends while the back members are connected by a cross piece 6 at the upper ends '40 thereof.

The front legs are connected at their lower ends by the spindle or rung 7 while the rear legs are connected at their rear ends by the rungs 8. The struts 9 are pivoted to the back members at 10 and provided with a cross piece 11 at their lower ends selectively engageable with the notches 12 in the upper edges of the rear legs which permits the supporting of the back members at the desired angle and also the complete collapsing of the chair.

The arms 13 are pivoted to the struts at 14 and further supported by the links 15 mounted on the leg pivots 3.

A combined seat and back unit 16 of suitable 5 flexible material, such as canvas or so-called awning material, is secured at one end to the cross piece 5 and at the other end to the cross piece 6. The cross rod 1'7 is connected to this seat and back unit at the juncture of the seat and back portions thereof or at the rear of the seat portion 18 by means of the loop straps- 19 in the embodiment illustrated inFigs. 1 to 5. These straps are stitched to the seat and back unit and looped around the cross rod 17.

The cross rod is carried by the links 20 which are pivoted at 21 on the rear legs with the result that the weight of the occupant on the seat portion 18 of the seat and back unit places the back portion 22 under stress, preventing the sagging of the back portion and also the objectionable sagging of the seat portion.

It has been the practice heretofore to support the combined seat and back unit at its ends only, with the result that both the seat and back portions curve and sag with the weight of the occupant. Where supporting rods have been provided to prevent this, the rods themselves have become objectionable as they are felt through the fabric.

To relieve the parts of strain and also to provide a further back support I attach the ends of a cross strap 23 to the front edge of the back members. This cross strap is passed around the back portion 22 of the combined seat and back unit and is located at the small of the backor above the hipline of the average occupant, with the result that side members are provided for the back as shown in Fig. 4.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the cross rod 24 is provided with a longitudinal groove 25 in which the unit 16 is secured by looping the same and arranging in the groove and driving in a spline 26. If desired this connection may be formed prior to affixing the cross rod 24 to the supporting links, the cross rod rotated to apply preliminary tension to the back'and' seat, and the cross rod secured by means of a nail as indicated by dotted lines at 27 My improved chair is very comfortable, the seat and back are supported without objectionable sagging, and at the same time the chair collapses or folds compactly. In the embodiment illustrated I provide the back with a headpiece 28.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a folding chair, the combination of crossed pivotally connected front and rear legs, the front legs being extended into back members, cross pieces arranged at the front ends of said rear legs and the upper ends of said back members, struts pivotally connected to said back members and adjustably engaged with said rear legs, a flexible integral seat and back unit secured at its front end to said cross piece on said rear legs and at its upper end to said cross piece on said back members, flexible loops connected to said seat and back unit at their juncture, a

cross rod engaged in said loops, and forwardly,

projecting rigid supporting links connected to said cross piece and pivotally mounted on said rear legs.

2. In a folding chair, the combination of crossed pivotally connected front and rear legs, the front legs being extended into back members, cross pieces arranged at the front ends of said rear legs and the upper ends of said back members, struts pivotally connected to said back members and adjustably engaged with said rear legs, a flexible integral seat and back unit secured at its front end to said cross piece on said rear legs and at its upper end to said cross piece on said back members, a cross rod connected to said seat and back unit at their juncture, and forwardly projecting rigid supporting links connected to said cross piece and pivotally mounted on said rear legs.

3. In a folding chair, the combination of crossed front and rear legs, the front legs being extended into back members, cross pieces arranged at the front ends of said rear legs and the upper ends of said back members, struts pivotally connected to said back members and adjustably engaged with said rear legs, a flexible integral seat and back unit secured at its ends to said cross pieces, straps connected to said unit at the rear of the seat portion thereof, a cross piece engaged with said straps, and rigid supporting links connected to said cross piece and pivotally mounted on said rear legs.

4. In a folding chair, the combination of crossed front and rear legs, the front legs being extended into back members, cross pieces arranged at the front ends of said rear legs and the upper ends of said back members, struts pivotally connected to said back members and adjustably engaged with said rear legs, a flexible integral seat and back unit secured at its ends to said cross pieces, a cross rod connected to said seat and back unit at the rear of the seat portion thereof, and rigid supporting links connected to said cross piece and pivotally mounted on said rear legs.

HAROLD E. BAKER. 

